Won't change my style: Sabbir
There has been hardly any doubt about his talent, which is the reason the team's think tank has been trying Sabbir Rahman at the crucial number three position. The question mark however has been about the right-hander's inability to make that spot his own, and the dearth of big knocks in the ICC Champions Trophy has only increased the pressure. The 25-year old can hardly wait to play the next international game to get away from all the uneasiness.
“I am very desperate to play any match because I did not do well in the past three or four matches. That is still on my mind and I feel downbeat from time to time. So no matter what series it is, if I can do well then I can forget those performances. So I am preparing myself to play a good series,” said Sabbir while he was talking to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Sabbir scored 24, 8, 8 and 19 in the four matches he played in the Champions Trophy and the batsman urged that he should not be judged on the basis of a few bad matches.
“I have been in the national team for three years. I did not perform for three or four matches in the Champions Trophy. I think I did quite well in all the home series, overseas series and tournaments that I have played before that. So you cannot judge a player based on three or four games. I am trying to come back strongly and rectify my mistakes,” he said.
Sabbir also has no problem with the batting position. “The problem is that I couldn't score runs. If I could score then five, six, seven or nine wouldn't be an issue. Runs are the biggest issue. If I scored then number three would be good and if I didn't then even number 10 would be bad. I will try to score runs no matter which position I play in. It's not about me, it's always team first. So I will play wherever they need me.”
He also has no problem with any format of the game. “All three formats are a challenge. If I consider any one more of a challenge then it will be an added pressure for me. Red ball or white, if I can pick the balls and play my game then I believe that I can do well in any format.”
Sabbir was also not ready to change anything in his batting approach. “I will play where the team and coach need me but I won't change my style of play. I will play how I have been and that has brought me success for the past three years, so why would I try to change that?.”
Like his teammates Sabbir has also been enjoying the ongoing fitness camp and anticipating its positive long-term impact and made it clear that they were only concentrating on the camp, not other issues like the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
“BPL is still about three months away,” he said.